Cyclone Titli Turns ‘Very Severe’, To Hit Odisha Today at 5:30 am

The depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified on Tuesday, 9 October, and moved towards the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast before taking the shape of a cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Cyclone Titli Approaching at 140/150 Kmph: IMD Bulletin .

Odisha CM Meets Specail Relief Commissoner Over Cyclone Titli .

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited the office of Special Relief Commissioner office this evening and reviewed preparedness for the impending landfall of the cyclonic storm Titli. Three lakh people have been evacuated till now.

Three Lakh People Evacuated From Costal Areas in View of Cyclone Titli: Odisha CM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday, 10 October, said around three lakh people have been evacuated from the coastal areas of the state so far in view of the ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm Titli, reported PTI.

After holding the second review meeting at the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) during the day, he said, “If required, more people will be evacuated to safer places.”

Visuals From Odisha’s Ganjam District, Where Cyclone Titli Is Soon To Make Landfall

Almost 10,000 people from low-lying areas in Odisha have been evacuated to government shelters, reported ANI.

Visuals from Odisha’s Ganjam district where Cyclone Titli is expected to make landfall on Thursday morning:

Cabinet Secretary Reviews Preparatory Measures for Cyclone Titli

Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) on Wednesday, 10 October, to take stock of preparatory measures in the wake of impending landfall of the cyclonic storm Titli along the coasts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on Thursday morning, reported ANI.

NDMA Issues List of Do’s and Dont’s

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a list of do’s and dont’s for assistance to people before, during and after the cyclone.

Odisha Byabasayi Mahasangha Asks Traders to Not Hike Prices

The apex body of traders in the state ‘Odisha Byabasayi Mahasangha’ said that the market has enough food items in store and hence, there should be no panic buying, reported PTI.

Spokesman Sudhakar Panda said the traders have been asked not to sell items like potatoes, onions and other items at high prices.

“The people are requested to inform the Mahasangha if anyone charges more price on commodities,” Panda said adding that the people may also lodge complaint with the district collectors.

Railway Recruitment Board Exams Cancelled in Odisha

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) of Bhubaneswar has cancelled the exams that were scheduled to be held on 11 and 12 October in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Khurda and Berhampur in view of cyclone Titli, reported ANI.

In a release, the chairman of RRB Bhubaneswar said that the revised schedule and locations for the examination will be sent to the registered mobile number and email of the candidates.

Four NDRF teams have also been deployed in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, Srikakulum and Vijaynagram, reported ANI.

Odisha Minister Urges People Not To Panic Buy

As the ‘very severe’ cyclone Titli approaches Odisha, people are not only buying extra provisions but also queuing up at petrol pumps to stock up on fuel.

Odisha’s food supplies and consumer welfare minister SN Patro on Wednesday appealed to the people not to go for panic buying of essential commodities, reported PTI.

The minister said that he has instructed all district collectors to keep a tab on the market as a section of traders are allegedly attempting to hoard essential items and said that the government will take stringent action against the hoarders.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that following its landfall, the cyclone is very likely to maintain its intensity till the evening of 11 October, while moving northeastwards across Odisha.

Cyclone to Hit Odisha-Andhra Pradesh Coast Tomorrow at 5:30 am

Cyclone Titli has been upgraded to ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm and is likely to make landfall between Gopalpur in Odisha and Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh at 5:30 am on Thursday, 10 October, said Odisha chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.

“Collectors of five districts have been directed to start evacuation of people living in low-lying areas. Adequate relief provisions have been made,” ANI quoted him as saying.

Schools, Colleges to Remain Closed in Odisha on Thursday and Friday

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered closure of all schools, colleges and anganwadi centres on Thursday and Friday in view of IMD’s forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall across the state, reported PTI.

The college students union elections, earlier scheduled to be held on Thursday, have also been cancelled.

Odisha CM Orders Evacuation of Five Coastal Areas

Patnaik, who took stock of the situation, has asked the collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts to go for an immediate evacuation of people in low-lying areas in the coastal belt, reported PTI.

Train Services Hit in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

In view of Cyclone Titli, train services between Odisha’s Khurda Road and Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram will not be allowed after 10 pm and up trains from Howrah or Kharagpur will not be allowed from Bhadrak after 5.15pm till further notice, reported ANI.

Down trains from Hyderabad or Visakhapatnam will also not be allowed from Duvvada after 6.40pm and movement of passenger trains will not take place between Khurda Road and Vizianagaram section after 10pm till further advice, ANI reported.

IMD Issues Red Alert in Odisha

The IMD has issued a red alert for Wednesday and Thursday in Odisha, predicting “heavy to very heavy rainfall” in the state, reported The Tribune.

Cyclone to Move Towards Andhra, Odisha Coast on 11 October, Says IMD

The IMD has indicated that Cyclone Titli is likely to move towards the Andhra-Odisha coast on 11 October, and could bring heavy rainfall along the region over the next 24 hours, ANI reported.

The IMD has also warned the fishermen along the coast to not carry out any activities.

Heavy Rainfall Likely to Lash South Coastal Odisha

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, heavy rainfall is likely to lash at the following districts from Wednesday, 10 October.

The following districts are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall from Thursday, 11 October.

Rainfall would be accompanied by winds reaching 40-50 kmph and gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to commence along and off Odisha coast from Tuesday night.

Odisha Prepares For Possible Floods

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off the Odisha coast and central and north Bay of Bengal till 12 October.

The Odisha government has been cautioned about possible floods in view of the heavy rainfall across the state.

The state government has issued alerts to all districts, particularly the districts in coastal region. The district collectors have been asked to remain alert and make necessary arrangements to shift people living in the low-lying areas.

Cyclonic Storm Alert in Odisha

The depression over the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday, 9 October, intensified and moved towards Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast before taking the shape of a cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The fear of a cyclonic storm thickened as the deep depression remained practically stationary and lay centered at about 560 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha and 510 km southeast of Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh, it said.

He said the system is very likely to re-curve north-eastwards, move towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha and weaken gradually.